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The ladies tittered, and Glory turned to Drake and said, "A pair of gloves against Ellan Vannin." "Done," said Drake, and there was general laughter. The gipsy still held Glory's hand, and looking up at Drake out of the corner of her eyes, she said: "I won't tell you what colour he is, pretty lady, but he is young and tall, and, though he is a gorgio, he is the kind a Romany girl would die for.
Some of the party had come over from the coach, and Lord Robert was jotting down in a notebook the particulars of betting commissions for his fair companions. "And am I to be honoured with a commission from the Hurricane?" he asked. "Yes; what's the price for Ellan Vannin?" "Come down to five to one, pretty lady." "Get me one to five that he's going to lose."
"A prohibitive price for you." said Drake. "Nonsense! I'm going to do a flutter on my own, you know, and plunge against you." It was explained to her that only bookmakers bet against horses, but the gentleman with the beard volunteered to reverse positions, and take Glory's ten to one against Ellan Vannin. "In what?" "Oh h'm in thick 'uns, of course."
His father was dead and he had succeeded to the baronetcy. He had also inherited a racing establishment which the family had long upheld, and a colt which had been entered for the Derby nearly three years ago was to run in the race that day. Its name was Ellan Vannin, and it was not a favourite.
Hip, hip, hurrah!" At the entrance to the town an evergreen arch had been erected. It bore an inscription in Manx: "Dooiney Vannin, lhiat myr hoilloo" "Man of Man, success as thou deservest." The carriage had slacked down to a walk. "Drive quicker," cried Philip. "The streets are crowded, your Excellency," said Jem-y-Lord.
It was Ellan Vannin. From that moment Drake's horse never relinquished his advantage, but came down the straight like a great bird with his wings ceasing to flap, passed the Stand amid great excitement, and won handsomely by a length. Then in the roar of delight that went up from the crowd Glory, with her hand on Drake's shoulder, was seen to be crying, laughing, and cheering at the same moment.
To one of these pencillers Drake said: "What's the figure for Ellan Vannin?" "Ten to one, market price, sir." "I'll take you in hundreds," said Drake, and they struggled through the throng. Going up the stairs Glory said: "But wasn't the Archdeacon at your office this morning? We saw him coming out of the square with Mr. Golightly." "Oh, did you? How hot it is to-day!" "Isn't it?
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